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Indo-Russian Economic Cooperation
ABHISHEK KUMAR RAHUL
Assistant Professor H.N.B, PG College, Naini
Allahabad (U.P.), India
Abstract:
The disintegration of the Soviet Union has brought major
changes in Indo-Russian relations. The world to some critics became bipolar or multipolar world. Hence in the changed international world order, the relations between the two countries was not cordiale. But as soon as political and economic situation improved in Russia, the relations too improved with India whether it was in defence, science and technology and economic field. The article discusses in detail the pros and cons of Indo-Russian economic relations. In future their strategic partnership would have to move in a more positive direction if both the countries allow public and private players to enhance the bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
Key words: market economic, globalization, liberalisation, modernization, Shock therapy, strategic partnership, GLONASS, buyer –seller meet, military-industrial complex, Joint Study Group, private economic players.
INTRODUCTION:
manufacturing destination and not just a market. In the past, the Soviet Union played an important role in India‟s industrialization. The economic relations with Russia is seen as a state within Soviet Union but now Russia was then emerged as an independent country.
INDO-SOVIET ECONOMIC RELATIONS:
Earlier, India‟s economic relations with Soviet Union were based on the mutual interests. After independence, India‟s public sector was largely a Soviet creation and the Soviet military assistance began even before the India-China conflict of 1962. Before the death of Nehru, Indo-Soviet cooperation had already expanded to heavy engineering items, oil refining, oil exploration, coal, iron ore, electric power generation power equipment production, antibiotics and pharmaceuticals precisions instruments and aluminum production, antibiotics and pharmaceuticals, precision instruments and aluminum production.1
Indo-Soviet Union relationship was described as one of the exemplary models of unique and rancor free ties. The „great silk route‟ was the life line for traders in the two countries since then. Close trade linkages have been forged and subsequently have been expanded to cultural and academic linkages between the peoples of two countries. This has now transformed into “Strategic Partnership” of the twenty first country.2
offered the largest credit of Rs. 2,800 cr. It was a significant boost in the Indo – Soviet trade and economic relations. A number of credit lines were opened by way of exporting Soviet – made engineering equipments, machinery and capital goods to assist India in industrialisation. By mid 1960s, the Soviet Union became the second largest contributor to India‟s development.
It was an undisputed fact that the Soviet Union, by early, 1970 acclaimed for the quantum range of economic and technical assistance to India compared to any other country in the world. By the late 1970s, the Soviet Union became India‟s largest trading partner and India too figured as the top priority partner in the USSR‟s foreign trade and economic activity outside the COMECON3 in East Europe. A number of
agreement were signed by the President Gorbachev and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in late 1980s, which were directed to boost bilateral trade and provide Soviet investments and technical assistance approximately to the tune of $ 2.4 billion to the Indian telecommunication and transport sector.
The entire trade was conducted in rupees under a system of annual trade protocols and profits were calculated in non-convertable currency.
DISINTEGRATION OF THE SOVIET UNION:
In August 1991 USSR disintegrated into 15 independent countries and Russia become the main successor state of the Soviet Union. After disintegration Russia relied on financial and technical support from the West to transform its shattered economy from state controlled to market economy. There are several reasons behind the disintegration of USSR:- i- the foreign exchange crisis; ii- the fall in the production of raw materials; iii- the fall in the supply of labor; iv- decline in fixed capital assets and v- budget crisis.4
and other economic objects except the key industrial units of strategic importance. India is also embarked on the path of economic liberalization around the same time but without „shock therapy.5
DECLINE IN INDO-RUSSIAN BILATERAL TRADE:
That period was very difficult for both countries as both the countries were suffering from economic crisis and there was further decline in projects in the bilateral trade. There are several reason that affected Indo – Russia economic relations. These are as follows –
I. Foreign trade was the monopoly of the state during the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the state lost dominations over foreign trade.
II. India embarked on the path of economic liberalization in 1991, for gaining projects many trade operators were active in trading activities. They were motivated for short term perspective for Indian goods. They were not paying attention on the quality of the products which were being exported to Russia. They failed to make impressive gains in the rapidly changing market situation in Russia, faced tough quality and price competition.
III. Non payment ability on the part of the Russian importing agencies. This situation discouraged many exporters who were involved interacting from Soviet Union.
IV. After the disintegration of rupees trade was terminated and India‟s debt to USSR amounted Rs. 36,000 crores which was converted into debt repayment funds payable to Russia in Indian merchandise.
mechanism for imports from India started with the allocation of rupee funds changing over to auction of rupee funds at discounted rates. The lack of consistency and transparency in payment had also added to the complexity of India‟s trade with Russia.
VI. In the process of liberalization of the economy, both India and Russia declared economic reforms to open up their economies. Russia had changed its priority in favor of USA and the West to establish good economicrelations with the capitalist world and also the transportation route because the traditional trade route through Odissa port was not accessible as it had becomes a part of Ukrain. So finding a new route was more time and cost consuming.6 As a result the trade between both
countries reached a low of less than one billion dollars.
NEW BEGINNING IN INDO-RUSSIAN ECONOMIC RELATIONS:
In May 1992, a fresh Indo – Russian Trade and Economic Agreement was signed during the official visit of Russian Secretary of the State, Gennady Burbulis. It was agreed that the bilateral trade would henceforth be carried out only through hard currency transactions and would repay its debt to Russia being the successor state of the USSR.7 It was also decided to
accord MFN status to each other and to set up an inter – governmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation (IRIGC). Russia renewed its export of oil, newsprint and military equipments to India. In response, India opened $ 285 million technical credit line to Russia for importing traditional items like tea, tobacco and spices. The trade had slightly gone to $ 1.32 billion including India‟s export of $ 750 million and imports $ 569 million 1993.8 A treaty of
YELTSIN ERA
During the Russian President Yeltsin visit to India in January 1993 both countries, having recognized the deep – rooted national traditions and a tangible mutuality of substantive interests, redefined their relationship according to post – cold war realties.9
Yeltsin period can be classified into two phases. The Russian foreign policy in the first phase was guided by an overarching sense of „enlightened pragmatism‟ that was neither enlightened nor pragmatic but a mistake.10 As a result, short
lived first phase had to enter the second phase wherein Russia started considering itself a „Eurasian Country‟ since more of its part lies in Asia than in Europe. These new developments took place because of the “shift in Russian domestic and foreign policy that became evident in the second half of the 1992.”11
Thus, the Indo – Russian relations revived in the second phase. Both countries reoriented their relations in the changed world order. The bilateral relations then were on a stable and positive course and the visit of Yeltsin in 1992 was considered as a first step in that direction.12
In 1991, four letters were exchanged in the settlement of India‟s debt to erstwhile Soviet Union. According to the debt repayment agreement 67% of the debt would be paid in 12 years i.e. Rs. 3,000 crores annually at the conversion rate of Rs 19.90 to 1 Rouble with 2.4 percent interest starting from 1993 till the years 2005. The remaining 37 percent without be paid over 33 years without any interest @ Rs. 31.57 to 1 Rouble.13
for import of tea, tobacco, soyabean and pharmaceuticals by designated Russian agencies.14 According to government
sources trade between India and Russia declined from $ 2,368 million in 1991 – 92 to $ 1569 millions in almost seven years.
The 90s represented one of the most difficult decades in Indo – Russian relations. After the disintegration of USSR, before 1993 the relations of both the countries were not good but the relations gathered some momentum and strategic relations strengthened during the post 1993 phase but was not much enthusiastic from the point of view of economic cooperation. According to government sources, trade between India and Russia declined from $ 2,368 million in 1991-92 to $ 1,569 millions on 1997-98, i.e. a drop of over 30 percent in about seven years. Trade between the two countries declined sharply in the first half of the 1990s which was a crisis period immediately after the Soviet break-up. This indicated the severe impact of the Soviet break up on India-Russia economic trade.
An important aspect of bilateral trade was high influctuations in trade over the years, which indicated lack of stability in trade relations between the two countries. So far overall trade turnover was concerned India‟s exports to Russia went down from $ 1,640 million in the 1991-92 to $ 650 millions in 1997-98 and imports also declined from $728 to $500 million in the same period.15
After the disintegration, India was not able to sustain exports to Russia, while relatively Russia was able to sustain its exports performance to India including defence sells. Indian exporters failed to make impressive gain in the rapidly changing market situation in Russia and had to face tough quality and price competition from other competitors.16 Without
cumbersome custom procedures and tax law, deteriorating security system, criminal mafia and unreliable banking system during the 1990s further complicated their efforts. Moreover, the 1998 fiscal crisis in Russia led to total bankruptcy of thousand of foreign companies including many Indian firms and their confidence to do business in Russia was low. But, the trade had started picking up only 1999-2000 and crossed $ 1 billion.
PUTIN ERA : -
The new millennium saw a change in Russian leadership when President Vladimir Putin, assumed power in May 2000. He had the herculean task in handling inherited problems from his predecessor. The vast state was diseased with vices like massive corruption, organized crime, depleted industry, high inflation, bankrupt factories, unemployed youth, and a society where majority were robbed of their savings by the state and derived of basis needs.17
During the Yeltsin regime huge state funds were being illegally transferred from Russia to European banks. Putin went about carefully with the process of strengthening the Indo – Russian relations including trade and economic ties have acquired a new status with President Putin as the helm of the Russian affairs. Putin first visited India in October 2000. It was soon followed by the declaration on “Strategic Partnership” between the two countries. Both the countries also signed the Integrated Long – Term Programme of Scientific and Technical Cooperation (ILTP) during this visit.18
The visit of Indian Petroleum Minister Ram Naik visit to Moscow in February, 2011 also saw the signing of an agreement between the Indian Oil Company, ONGC Videsh Ltd. and the Russian Rosneft for the joint exploration of hydrocarbon resources in the Russian Far – Eastern Island of Sakhalin.19
Strengthening and developing economic scientific and technological cooperation. A document on economic cooperation between Indian state of Karnataka and Samara region of Russia and another document on telecommunication were signed during the visit.20 During Indian Prime Minister
Vajpayee visit to Moscow in November 2003, 85 Indian businessman accompanied him to study the prospects of investment and joint collaborations with Russian companies.21
Mani Shankar Aiyar, India‟s Petroleum Minister, visited Moscow in October 2005 to discuss India‟s energy requirements with Russia. In May, 2005 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh‟s visit to Moscow both countries decided to set up a Joint Study Group (JSG) on economic cooperation to look into the feasibility of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).22 In 2005, Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh visited Russia and an agreement was signed on technology safeguards which implemented the long-term cooperation in the area of joint development operation and use of the Russian global navigation satellite system GLONASS. This was done between G. Madhavan Nair. Secretary, Development of Space technology and A. Preminov, Director, Russian Federal Space Agency. This agreement envisages launching of GLONASS satellite using GSLV launch. This agreement opens the road for the implementation of a 2004 agreement on joint design and launching of GLONASS Communication satellites which will be used by both countries for civilian and military purposes.
sides jointly embarked on a goal to expand trade in hi-tech products, to bolster scientific and technological partnership in priority areas such as space exploration, its software parks, communication and advanced alternative technologies. A joint study group was formed in 2006 to enhance Indo-Russians trade relations to understand that now Russia and India can engage with each other in order to achieve the $10 billion target. The Joint Study Group23 submitted its findings in
February, 2007 at the time of the Indo-Russian trade and investment forum meeting was held.
Viktar Khristenka, Russia‟s Energy and Industry Minister, invited India to invest in Russia‟s energy sector and join Russian Companies in exploration and extraction activities in third countries, particularly in Central Asia. Indian companies like ONGC and other showed interest for oil exploration through joint ventures and equity partnership. The Russian Minister specifically welcomed India‟s interest in participating in the Sakhalin – 3 oil project in Siberia. India already invested $ 2.7 billion in Sakhalin- 1, but is expected to have to bargain hard for a share in the even more lucrative Shakhalin – 3 venture where Russian and international energy majors companies such has Lukoil, Gaaxprom, Resheft and Exxon Mobil are all jockeying for position.
During the meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Singh and Russian businessman agreed to develop a long term energy partnership and decided that India and Russia would explore oil and gas assets both in production and explorations in third world countries like the Central Asian region.24
diversification of energy supplies and moving away from dependent on fossil fuels is important.25
FICCI, CII have intensified their contracts with their Russian counterparts by holding Indo-Russian buyer – seller meets, JBCs and exhibition in engineering sectors in February, 2005 at IETF, New Delhi, with the participation by medium and large Russian companies. The first ever IT Round Table seminar with the participation of about 20 major IT companies of Russia was held in Bangalore in December, 2004. The first ever Indo – Russian Energy Forum was held in January, 200526
at New Delhi. India-Russia also need to look any other relevant issues including the expansion of inter-banking co-operation and easing of visa regulations for Indian professionals for short as well as longer periods, including business travel.
Despite economic policy changes in both countries, the Indo-Russian economic relationship is still dominated by defence/public sector transactions. The Military Industrial Complex (MIC) still stands at the core of strong Indo-Russian economic linkage.
Macro – economic stability and growth in the two economies continued mainly because of there intensive expansion of internal consumer and investment demand. Overall, the economic policies of both countries aimed at supporting macroeconomic equilibrium and simulating growth.27
Russian‟s Economic Report of December, 2006 states that it has been experiencing severe shortages of skilled labour due to demographic decline. This had an adverse effect on its economic growth in this context. It could be of mutual interest if professional from India were to be hired to meet the Russian requirements. This idea was discussed during Putin‟s January, 2007 visit as well as during the recent the visit of Russian‟s Minister of Economic Development and Trade.
years in office, industry grew by 75%, investment increased by 125% and agricultural production and construction increased as well. The Putin era has been termed as the transformable period for Russia as well as for the India – Russia Strategic partnership.28
MEDVEDEV ERA :
In May 2008 Medvedev became the third President of Russian Federation. His emphasis was on modernization of the economy. There was several visits by President Medvedev to India for enhancing the cooperation in defence and economic areas. Indo - Russian bilateral trade increased then, at a good pace. Indian and Russian trade statistics in 2009 was estimated as $ 7.5 billions with Indian imports given as $ 5936 million and India exports $1524 million. The trade was restricted to a narrow range of goods satisfaction of the trade basket was clearly indicated. An notable aspect of that is that the trade imbalance in favour of Russia grew from 2:1 in 2001 to almost 4:1 in 2009. If Indo – Russian defence deals are taken into account the actual imbalance in favour of Russia is significantly higher29 in December, 2010. The Russian President Medvedev
visited India to enhance strategic partnership in changing world scenario.
The global financial crisis of 2008 in Russia has resulted in three major shocks to Russia‟s long – term economic growth through oil prices dropping from $ 140 per barrel to $ 40 per barrel a decrease in access to financing with an increase in sovereign and corporate bond spreads and the reversal flows from $80 billion inflows to $ 130 billion in out flows which have resulted in bringing down the Russian economic growth.
turbulence with increasing relaxation of capital account transaction and the close integration of the domestic economic with international financial market. There was a steady fall in the value of the recipe despite substantial running down of foreign currency by the Reserve Bank of India.30
In 2010, the official figure from the Russian foreign Ministry show that Indo – Russians trade including imports and exports were around $ 8.53 billion. Russian President Medvedev‟s visit to India in 2010 decided to increase the volume of trade and investment and set a target of $ 20 billion by 2015.31
RETURN OF PUTIN
In 2012 Putin again became the President of Russia. While holding the office of the President he started to sort out the problems in the trade between India and Russia.
Chart
Year India’s Import from Russia
India’s Export from Russia
Total Trade
Percentage Increase YOY
2004 1.55 0.63 2.18 (-) 34.17
2005 2.31 078 3.09 41.78
2006 2.98 0.96 3.95 27.66
2007 4.01 1.30 5.32 34.51
2008 5.23 1.71 6.94 30.56
2009 5.93 1.52 7.46 7.4
2010 6.39 2.14 8.53 14.4
2011 6.09 2.79 8.89 4.19
2012 7.91 3.04 10.95 23.8
2013 7.01 3.10 10.11 -7.34
2014 6.34 3.17 9.51 -5.6
Source: http:// Indiaembassy.ru/index.php./en/economic-cooperation/overview
CONCLUSION:
Structural reforms coupled with application of full scale market mechanism in trade proved to be a negative feature of Indo-Russian economic cooperation. The signing of several dozen bilateral agreements have done not much to promote trade relations between them. Their economic ties constitute the weakest link in their growing strategic partnership. Despite repeated calls to double the trade turnover target over the last decade, bilateral trade volume does not show sign of significant growth. Unfortunately, in 2013 Indo-Russian trade has gone down by 14.4%. This reason for this was drop in energy prices and lower demand for machine building produce due to unfavorable external market building.
economic players of both countries in order to bolster bilateral trade and economic relations. If India and Russia are strategic partners, state intervention in promoting economic ties is essential and should not be left entirely to the market forces.
REFERENCES:-
1. D. A. Mahapatra, “Indo – Russian Economic Cooperation”: Prospects for 21st century “Significance of
India-Russian Relations in 21st Century, p. 188.
2. P.L.Dash, A.M.Nazarkin India and Russia : Strategic Synergy Emerging, Author Press, 2007.
3. S. Babu, „Indo – Russian Economic Cooperation : A Futuristic Approach‟ „India and Russia : Strategic Synergy Emerging‟, p. 127.
4. V.D.Chopra, Significance of Indo – Russian Relations in 21st Century Kalpaz Pub., Delhi, 2008 p. 202.
5. P.L.Dash, A.M.Nazarkin, op.cit. 6. ibid
7. V.D. Chopra, op.cit.
8. „Indo – Russian Economic Cooperation : A Futuristic Approach‟ „India and Russia: Strategic Synergy Emerging‟, p. 128.
9. ibid
10. A.K.B. Halu, Indo-Russian Relation in the Post Cold War period (1991-2003), Author Press, Delhi, 2010. 11. Indo-Russian Economic & Trade Relations, p. 43 12. ibid, p. 43.
13. P.L.Dash, A.M.Nazarkin, op.cit. 14. ibid
15. A.K.B. Halu,, op.cit.
16. Indo-Russian Economic Cooperation : A Futuristic Approach‟ „India and Russia: Strategic Synergy Emerging‟, p. 131.
19. Indo-Russian Relation in the Post Cold War Period (1991-2003), Indo-Russian Economic & Trade Relations, p. 50.
20. ibid 21. ibid 22. ibid,p. 51. 23. Ibid,p. 52.
24. Indo-Russian Relation in the Post Cold War Period (1991-2003), Indo-Russian Economic & Trade Relations, p. 53.
25. India and Russia : Mismatch of Potential and Performances, p. 209.
26. P.L.Dash, A.M.Nazarkin, op.cit.p. 132. 27. www.idsa.in.
28. Snogadha article, p. 65.
29. Ambassador, Rajendra Sen (Retd.) ,The Illusion of India‟s Bilateral Relation with Russia, p. 21.
30. Snogadha article, p. 66.
